Second Durban North trafficking suspect to appear in court
Another suspect linked to the alleged human trafficking case in Durban North is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court today.
ANOTHER suspect linked to an alleged human trafficking case involving four young women rescued from a Durban North property in 2022 is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court today (Friday, August 14).
Related story: Update: uMhlanga businessman’s bail application postponed
The 48-year-old man handed himself over to police at the Durban North Police Station on Thursday, August 13, according to a media statement released by the SAPS on its Facebook page.
He is facing charges of trafficking in persons, sexual assault and kidnapping.
The arrest follows the detention earlier this week of a 65-year-old Durban businessman, who is also facing charges linked to the case.
The businessman was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team on Tuesday, August 11, following the execution of a J50 warrant of arrest.
He appeared briefly in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and the matter was postponed for a formal bail application.
The investigation stems from the alleged trafficking of four young women from Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, in 2022.
According to police, the women were recruited in February that year after being promised employment selling SIM cards to clients at a private casino in Durban. They were allegedly promised transport and accommodation.
The women were transported to Durban North on March 2, 2022, but police allege that they were subsequently informed that the terms of their employment had changed.
They were allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation and forced to work on an online platform.
Police allege that one of the victims was sexually assaulted by the alleged ringleader after he arrived at the property to interview the women.
One of the women managed to send a WhatsApp message to her boyfriend, who alerted police.
A task team subsequently used a live location to trace the property and rescue the four women.
The Hawks said the investigation is continuing and that further suspects linked to the case could be arrested.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
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